REAL Exclusive Magazine

Get This Home Sold

By Patricia Tan

As I write this article, we have just concluded a very successful “selling season” here on the Gulf Coast. Thanks to our winter visitors, we saw lots of new records being set in terms of the number and value of home sales. But what about those owners whose homes did not sell, or those who are just considering listing their home for sale now?

Here are some of the steps sellers should take as they consider putting a property on the market.

Establish the Reason for Sale
Understand why you are selling the property. Is this a decision made solely upon your own personal requirements, or is it being dictated by market conditions? Do you believe the market has peaked and you want to realize your profit at this time? For an investment property, have you seen rents tightening leaving little opportunity to increase your cash flow? If you are a foreign owner, the recent strength of the US Dollar against your home currency may make this a great time to sell and repatriate funds. Read More

Regulation Of Florida Water Parks

Are You At Risk For Injury?

By William Henry, PhD

Florida is the home of a large number of water parks. Given its name– the entity that regulates water parks may seem surprising to you. How does the regulation of Florida recreational theme parks that feature water oriented rides impact safety or lack thereof and –ultimately personal injury?

The Florida Legislature has recognized in Section 616.242 of the Florida Statutes the necessity of regulating amusement rides within the State.

Exempt from the statute for inspection purposes are:

Permanent facilities that employ at least 1,000 full-time employees, and that maintain full-time, in-house safety inspectors. However, the statute requires that such permanent facilities must file an affidavit of its annual inspection with the department, on a form prescribed by rule of the department. As a practical matter, the form adopted by the Department is for daily reports to be completed by the water park’s safety personnel. Read More

Robert Stettler and David McLaughlin

No Horsing Around

By Ed Bertha

Photography by Giovanni Lunardi

Layout by Christian Lunardi

Based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Inlanta Mortgage is a thriving mortgage banker in business since 1993. They offer Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agency products, as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs. The company is an agency approved lender for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA. Inlanta Mortgage also offers numerous state bond agency programs.

While Inlanta Mortgage may be relatively new to the Florida Suncoast, Team Stettler’s Robert Stettler and David McLaughlin, are two of the team’s industry veterans who bring a combined fifty plus years of experience in residential mortgage lending and real estate transactions to the firm. Their mission is, and always has been, to provide their clients, referral partners and associates with an exceptional experience. Read More

8022 Polo Club Lane

Country Comfort Meets City Convienence

By Ed Bertha

Layout by Christian Lunardi

Experience provincial elegance conveniently located to all of the amenities of Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and Bradenton. The peaceful and serene setting of the Sarasota Polo Club is the site for this beautiful 12-acre custom estate with guest casita. From the moment you enter the gate and meander down the tree canopied drive, you will know that you have arrived to your own private sanctuary.

Artfully designed by Clifford Scholz and skillfully built by Rich Perrone, this stunning residence exceeds all expectations. The welcoming exterior has the time honored look of American Colonial architecture complete with inviting wrapping porch setting the warm tone of this expansive estate. Read More

April Is Occupational Therapy Month!

What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?

By Kimberly Burns, OTR/L, CLT

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists provides the following definition of Occupational Therapy: “Occupational Therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational Therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the environment to better support participation.”

When we hear the word “occupation”, we almost automatically think of something related to the work people do to earn a living. In Occupational Therapy, the word occupation refers to any of the many activities people do on a daily basis that occupy their time and have meaning to them. The occupations of infants include sleeping, eating and exploration activities; for children occupations include learning to care for themselves, playing and school life. Adolescent and young adults are preparing to manage tasks of life independently. Occupations of adults include employment, home management, care of others, leisure, and as we get older, accommodations to changes in personal and physical capacities. Occupational Therapy teaches life skills. Read More

Anne A. Versary – Were you there?

Anne Weintraub P.A. celebrates one year in business.

The 7th floor courtyard was filled with attendees and assorted delicacies of all kinds.

Look for your photo below.

Read More

No Revving? – THUNDER BY THE BAY – Rev It Up!

By Ed Bertha

“You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!”
Dan Aykroyd

No Revving? Are you serious? Once again Thunder by the Bay quietly ROARED into Sarasota raising over $140,000 for Suncoast Charities for Children. This year’s event enables Suncoast Charities for Children to continue providing support to Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children, which over the years has constructed area facilities valued at over $20 million dollars. This past year approximately 8,000 special needs children, teens, adults and their families benefited from Suncoast Charities for Children funding. Rev It Up!

Research Data Services calculated that the direct and indirect overall economic impact of the 2015 Thunder by the Bay Motorcycle Festival was $8 Million (an 8.8% increase from 2014) and generated 6,000 room nights in area lodgings (up from 5,400 in 2014). Rev It Up! Read More

Charity & Weiss International Realty

Exceptional Real Estate Services With A Global Reach

By Lalaena Gonzalez-Figueroa

When they founded their real estate brokerage in 2006, Gabriele “Gabi” Charity and Ruediger “Rudi” Weiss were establishing a company focused on meeting the needs of a diverse – and demanding – clientele. With a cache of European clients, the pair recognized the opportunity to assist foreign nationals navigate the complex process of buying, selling and managing properties throughout the coveted Gulf Coast region.

Born and raised in Munich, Germany, Gabi was a seasoned educator by the time she relocated to Sarasota. She and her husband Bruce, a tennis pro originally from New York, came to the area as seasonal visitors. “I had a great-uncle in Sarasota, and we started visiting him here during European winters,” Gabi recalls. “Bruce and I fell in love with the climate, the people, and the lifestyle.” While the couple maintained their residence and professional pursuits in Munich, they purchased a home on Siesta Key, establishing roots that would eventually grow too strong to sever. In 2000 they arrived in Siesta Key for good. By then the couple had amassed a small portfolio of investment properties. “We were renting them out, primarily to Europeans,” Gabi says. “At some point, those renters began to ask about buying their own properties.” Read More

Thunder By The Bay

Benefiting Suncoast Charities For Children

Photography by Chuck Carroll

Research Data Services calculated that the direct and indirect overall economic impact of the 2015 Thunder by the Bay Motorcycle Festival was $8 Million (an 8.8% increase from 2014) and generated 6,000 room nights in area lodgings (up from 5,400 in 2014). Thunder by the Bay raised over $140,000 for Suncoast Charities for Children. A huge THANK YOU goes out to all who helped make this event a success!

Click HERE to download the event collage. Slideshow below. Read More

Chef Paul Mattison’s

Vineyard Chicken Salad

This and other tantalizing recipes are available in the cookbook Chef! The Stories and Recipes of Chef Paul Mattison, available for purchase at Mattison’s Forty-One or at www.Mattisons.com.

Serves Four

1 pound grilled chicken breast meat
1 cup halved red grapes
1 Tbsp diced onion
2 Tbsp diced celery
1½ Tbsp whole grain mustard
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cups lettuce spring mix
Sauvignon Blanc Vinaigrette
4 Tbsp dried cranberries
12 slices peeled avocado
4 Tbsp crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Candied Walnuts
salt and pepper to taste Read More

Breathe In A Healthy Lifestyle: It’s A Matter Of Technique

By Kimberly Burns, OTR/L, CLT

Many people know that breathing is important, yet are unaware of the importance of how you breathe. When you think about it, a few key words like “pursed lip breathing” or “deep breathing” may come to mind. An important muscle to breathing is the diaphragm. a body partition of muscle and connective tissue; specifically: the partition separating the chest and abdominal cavities in mammals, according to merriam-webster.com. It assists in breathing through movement. Most of us don’t really know how our breathing apparatus works or why it would be beneficial to learn more about this amazing resource we all have to boost our own health.

Accessing breath as a tool is a great mind and body connection. Use it to enhance health by learning a variety of different techniques and apply them to the different needs of your body. My favorite breathing technique is called diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing is a specific type of breath someone may use to help induce relaxation by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve controls your relaxation response. To help stimulate this nerve to send a calming response, you can use diaphragmatic/abdominal breathing. Or you can sing! Read More

Fifty Shades Of Gray

By Sheila Venancia

It is seems that today’s men generally dye their hair for three reasons. Many want to conceal the strands of gray hair creeping into their hairdos. Others want to change their look and add a little excitement to their style, or make a statement of some sort. But before you start coloring your hair, there are a few points you should keep in mind regarding hair coloring products.

WHICH COLOR
First of all, there are three major levels of products you can use to color your hair:

A Level 1 product is called a Semi-permanent color. This will add color to your hair without drastically changing its natural color. Level 1 products are generally used by men with 50% gray hair, or those who want to slightly enhance their natural color. This type of product typically last for 6 to 12 “shampoos” and does not lighten your hair permanently as they don’t contain ammonia or peroxide.

A Level 2 product is called Demi-permanent color. Level 2 products have a color enhancement factor, which is a little more visible than that of first level products. The color should last around 24 to 26 shampoos, depending on its strength. In general, it is used to blend and cover up gray hair.

Finally, a Level 3 product is known as Permanent color. Permanent colors are, as you might have guessed, permanent. Men seeking a significant change in hair color should use these. At this level, it would be wise to consult a professional colorist because the process often involves more than one step. Read More

Inside the NBA’s New Style Wars

By Becca Smith

It was MARCH MADNESS on the college scene, but all the madness now is on the most fashionable men of NBA basketball! The NBA has come a long way from oversized throwback jerseys, and multi-colored fitted caps that dominated the late nineties and early twenties. Players today are more comfortable wearing high end brands and straight off the runway.

The rivalry among the NBA’s elite has spilled off the court and into an arena where athletes have historically feared to tread: high fashion. Players are now showing up for games wearing leather pants, lensless glasses, and printed silk shirts. Take notice, basketball’s biggest names—Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Kobe, D-Wade, LeBron are turning the league into a runway for the world’s tallest peacocks. We know they have endless talent on the court, but now they have skills in their closets. LeBron James is always looking sharp, as is Dwyane Wade. Not to be outdone, big guys like Shaq and Amar’e Stoudemire also know how to present themselves. Read More

Closing Costs and Their Impact on Overseas Buyers

By Patricia Tan

I am writing this article from a cold, dreary and very gray England, where I just showcased Gulf Coast properties at a property exhibition attended by my fellow Brits who are interested in purchasing their very own place in the sun. A quick look out of the window and glance at the thermometer tells me why!

One of the questions I encountered a lot during the property show was “Exactly how much will this home cost me?” A reference to the dreaded closing costs local buyers are so used to seeing on statements when they purchase a home. This article will be published during what is traditionally one of our busiest months for closings – a time when snow bird purchases made during the winter months all come to fruition. So what better time to make a quick recap of those costs parties to a real estate transaction may be asked to pay at closing. Read More

Urbanite Theatre

Intimate, Compelling Performances

By Brandy Coffey Ruiz del Vizo

Urbanite Theatre, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is Sarasota’s newest addition to the area’s cultural scene bringing compelling, intimate live theater experiences to downtown. The theater is committed to fresh works, burgeoning playwrights and actor-driven productions that will provide the region with exciting, contemporary play going opportunities. Urbanite Theatre is a lively new addition to a thriving Sarasota social scene.

Co-Founders, Brendan Ragan and Summer Wallace credit their experience at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory and Asolo Rep, where they met, for grooming their artistry. “Brendan and I each have over a decade of experience as professional actors,” says Summer, “but our time at Asolo Rep was invaluable. Our work in the small classrooms was thrilling and life-changing, and performing with the Rep Company introduced us to the vibrant arts community in Sarasota. We want to marry that exciting, small-scale work with the incredible patrons in the region.” Read More